What makes a religion a religion?

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Permalink Reply by Carla on July 11, 2016 at 10:26am

Religion can be defined in two ways.  There is a secular definition, and a biblical definition (just as with most things—if not ALL things)

 

A secular definition is as follows:

 re·li·gion

 /rəˈlijən/

 noun: religion

 the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or gods.

 "ideas about the relationship between science and religion"

 synonyms: faith, belief, worship, creed; sect, church, cult, denomination

 "the freedom to practice their own religion"

 •a particular system of faith and worship.

 plural noun: religions

 "the world's great religions"

 •a pursuit or interest to which someone ascribes supreme importance.

 "consumerism is the new religion"

 

A biblical definition:

James 1:27New American Standard Bible

"Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world."

Does a religion need a God to serve?  No.  It can simply be a pursuit or interest which someone ascribes supreme importance to.  Ie:  atheism.  In this case they may subscribe supreme importance to the study of science.  How ever they are in grave error as the deeper we study science the more we see that it points to a Creator. 

 

Romans Chapter 1 speaks to this:  18But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness.i 19They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. 20For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.

21Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. 22Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools. 23And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles.

24So God abandoned them to do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. As a result, they did vile and degrading things with each other’s bodies. 25They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen. 26That is why God abandoned them to their shameful desires. Even the women turned against the natural way to have sex and instead indulged in sex with each other. 27And the men, instead of having normal sexual relations with women, burned with lust for each other. Men did shameful things with other men, and as a result of this sin, they suffered within themselves the penalty they deserved.

28Since they thought it foolish to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their foolish thinking and let them do things that should never be done. 29Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder, quarreling, deception, malicious behavior, and gossip. 30They are backstabbers, haters of God, insolent, proud, and boastful. They invent new ways of sinning, and they disobey their parents. 31They refuse to understand, break their promises, are heartless, and have no mercy. 32They know God’s justice requires that those who do these things deserve to die, yet they do them anyway. Worse yet, they encourage others to do them, too.

Does someone need to 'invent it', like Muhammad did? Or do people need to just worship someone/thing? Any supposed religion outside of how God defines it is manmade.  So yes. It is merely some human beings idea of how to earn their way to heaven, or in the case of atheism, it is subscribing supreme pursuit or importance to something.

How is buddhism a religion if buddha never claimed to be a God or prophet? Buddhism fits in with the secular definition of religion.  It is a particular system of faith and worship.

Also how is atheism a religion if you don't believe in any God? Answered above. :-)

How is Christianity different from Judaism and Jehovah Witnesses if they believe in the same God? Judaism and Jehovah Witness have similarities in that they both teach a ‘works’ salvation.  There are major differences also, but that is another discussion.  Jewish people reject Jesus as Messiah, although they still believe that the Messiah will come.  Jewish people believe that their salvation is in their heritage and also in studying the Torah. 

 

John 5 says: 39“You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me! 40Yet you refuse to come to me to receive this life.

41“Your approval means nothing to me, 42because I know you don’t have God’s love within you. 43For I have come to you in my Father’s name, and you have rejected me. Yet if others come in their own name, you gladly welcome them. 44No wonder you can’t believe! For you gladly honor each other, but you don’t care about the honor that comes from the one who alone is God.e

45“Yet it isn’t I who will accuse you before the Father. Moses will accuse you! Yes, Moses, in whom you put your hopes. 46If you really believed Moses, you would believe me, because he wrote about me. 47But since you don’t believe what he wrote, how will you believe what I say?”

Jehovah Witness believe that they must earn their salvation.  It depends on their good works.

Why do polytheists pray to multiple gods for different reasons? Polytheists pray to multiple gods for different reasons because they believe they need to.  They also have to jump through hoops to gain the approval of these various gods to make (force)  them to listen.

Do all religions believe the world will end?  I don’t know.  I don’t think this is a good focus.  Our focus for living for Jesus NOW is not that the world will end or fear of hell (although some people are motivated by that).  In my opinion it’s just not a healthy perspective.  We’re to live for Jesus now because we love Him and want to introduce others’ to Him.  Living for Him now brings peace, comfort and hope.  I’m not talking only about a future time….This peace, comfort and hope is for now—present day.  The end of the world is a dead end conversation unless you are already a believer.  If you are already a believer it is a fascinating, encouraging and insightful bible study.

 If you're going to have a discussion about religion it needs to be properly defined.  My suggestion is that if you are speaking with a non-believer about religion, ask them to define it.  They may say that is a belief in a god or gods.  I don't know how they'll respond.  You can tell them how the bible defines true religion as seen in

James 1:27 New Living Translation

Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.

However, take note, even true biblical religion can't save a person.  Salvation is in Jesus alone.  It is not in our works.  No one can obtain salvation by taking care of widows and orphans or keeping themselves uncorrupted by the world.

Acts 4:12

New American Standard Bible
"And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved."

Ephesians 2:8

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--

If they want to have this religion discussion make sure you are talking about the same thing.  Unbelievers don't typically understand the biblical definition of religion, which makes for a very difficult and confusing conversation.

 

Blessings, Carla

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